 Print version
|
 |
What's in the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS
The Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) evaluates potential impacts associated with the development and implementation of BLM's new Solar Energy Program for utility-scale solar energy development in six southwestern states. It also evaluates new program guidance relevant to DOE-supported solar projects.
What's in the Supplement to the Draft Solar Programmatic EIS
The Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS includes modified and new components of the proposed solar program and incorporates by reference relevant portions of the Draft Solar PEIS. The BLM has modified the preferred alternative to emphasize its commitment to the concept of SEZs by eliminating or adjusting SEZs to ensure SEZs are not located in high conflict areas, establishing a protocol to identify new SEZs, and outlining incentives for projects within SEZs. In addition, the BLM has revisited ongoing state-based planning efforts to assure that such efforts could result in the identification of new zones. While the BLM's preferred alternative emphasizes the use and creation of SEZs for utility-scale solar energy development, it has also proposed a process that will accommodate responsible development outside of SEZs.
The DOE also has included proposed new program guidance in the Supplement to the Solar Draft PEIS for public comment.
What is the scope of the analysis in the Draft PEIS?
For the BLM, the proposed action in this PEIS is to develop and implement a new Solar Energy Program that would facilitate environmentally responsible utility-scale solar energy development by establishing environmental policies and design features (i.e., mitigation requirements) related to utility-scale solar energy development in six southwestern states (Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah). The study area has been limited to these six states because they encompass the best solar energy resources suitable for utility-scale development over the next 20 years. Within these six states, the BLM originally identified 24 proposed solar energy zones (SEZs) as areas where the BLM would prioritize development. With the Supplement to the Draft PEIS, the BLM has eliminated 7 proposed SEZs from further consideration, and has adjusted the boundaries of some SEZs to ensure that SEZs are not located in high conflict areas.
For the DOE, the original proposed action was to develop programmatic guidance to further integrate environmental considerations into its analysis and selection of solar projects that it will support. In the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS, the DOE is presenting that draft programmatic guidance for public comment.
Agency-Specific Programs
Through this PEIS, the BLM is considering whether to establish a new Solar Energy Program to supplement or replace existing policies, and to amend land use plans in the six-state study area to adopt the new Program. Under the modified program presented in the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS, the BLM proposes categories of lands to be excluded from utility-scale solar energy development and identifies specific locations best suited for utility-scale production of solar energy (i.e., SEZs) where the BLM would prioritize development. The modified program emphasizes and incentivizes development within SEZs and proposes a collaborative process to identify additional SEZs. In order to accommodate the flexibility described in the BLM's program objectives, the modified program allows for utility-scale solar development outside of SEZs in accordance with a proposed variance process.
Similarly, through this PEIS the DOE is considering developing guidance to amend its programmatic approaches, as appropriate, to facilitate the advancement of solar energy development. Investment and deployment strategies would incorporate DOE's proposed guidance on environmental practices and mitigation strategies into the decision-making process; the proposed guidance has been based on information concerning environmental impacts and potentially applicable mitigation measures provided in the Draft Solar PEIS.
Lands Excluded from Solar Energy Development
At this time, solar energy development is prohibited by law, regulation, Presidential proclamation, or Executive Order from some lands administered by the BLM (e.g., lands in the National Landscape Conservation System, such as National Conservation Areas, National Monuments, Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, and Wild and Scenic Rivers). Under its new Solar Energy Program, the BLM will also exclude lands that the BLM has previously identified in its land use plans as environmentally sensitive, such as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern or other special management areas, that are inappropriate for or inconsistent with extensive, surface-disturbing uses. Some additional areas identified for exclusion through the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS include areas of high priority habitat for greater sage-grouse and Gunnison's sage-grouse.
Site-Specific Environmental Review
The intention of the PEIS is not to eliminate the need for site-specific environmental review for individual utility-scale solar energy development proposals. Site-specific environmental reviews are expected to be tiered to the PEIS and to be more effective and efficient because of the PEIS. However, as part of the Solar PEIS, the BLM is conducting a thorough environmental review of the proposed SEZs so that future reviews of applications within SEZs can tier to that NEPA analysis, thereby limiting the required scope and effort of additional project-specific NEPA analyses. The extent of this tiering will vary from project to project, as will the necessary level of NEPA documentation. Further evaluation will be required for future projects based on the actual location, technology, plan of development, and so forth (see Section 2.2.2.2.2 of the Supplement for details).
What Alternatives Are Being Analyzed in the Solar Energy Development PEIS?
BLM's Alternatives
The Supplement to the Draft PEIS evaluates three BLM alternatives:
- A no action alternative that continues the issuance of right-of-way authorizations for utility-scale solar energy development on a case-by-case basis in accordance with existing policies.
- A modified solar energy development program alternative (BLM's preferred alternative) establishes authorization policies and procedures for utility-scale solar energy development on BLM-administered lands. Under this alternative, the BLM proposes categories of lands to be excluded from utility-scale solar energy development and identifies specific locations well suited for utility-scale production of solar energy (i.e., SEZs) where the BLM would prioritize development. This alternative emphasizes and incentivizes development within SEZs and proposes a collaborative process to identify additional SEZs. The alternative also allows for utility-scale solar development in variance areas outside of SEZs in accordance with a proposed variance process.
- A modified SEZ program alternative that applies the same new policies and procedures to utility-scale solar energy development but restricts applications to SEZs only.
Under either of the modified action alternatives, the new program would be implemented through land use plan amendments.
DOE's Alternatives
The Draft PEIS evaluates two DOE alternatives:
- A no action alternative under which DOE continues its existing case-by-case process for addressing environmental concerns for solar projects supported by the agency.
- A programmatic environmental guidance alternative that develops guidance with recommended environmental best management practices and mitigation measures that could be applied to all DOE-supported solar energy projects.
What solar energy technologies are being evaluated in the Solar Energy Development PEIS?
The Draft PEIS analyzes potential environmental impacts associated with the development, operation, and decommissioning of utility-scale solar energy projects; i.e. solar energy projects that can generate 20 MW or more of electricity to be put directly into the electricity transmission grid. The following technologies are included in the PEIS analysis:
- Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
- parabolic trough (including compact linear Fresnel reflector)
- power tower
- dish systems
- Photovoltaic (PV) Systems - flat plate and concentrating
See the Utility-Scale Solar Energy and Electric Transmission Guide for more information about these utility-scale solar energy technologies.
What impacts and issues are being addressed in the Solar Energy Development PEIS?
Preliminary issues and management concerns associated with utility-scale solar energy development have been identified by Agency personnel, other agencies, and public stakeholders.
The Draft PEIS evaluates direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts to:
- Lands and Realty
- Specially Designated Areas
- Rangeland Resources
- Recreation
- Military and Civilian Aviation
- Geologic Setting and Soil Resources
- Minerals
- Water Resources
- Ecological Resources (including plants, wildlife, aquatic biota, and special status species)
- Air Quality and Climate
- Visual Resources
- Acoustic Environment
- Paleontological Resources
- Cultural Resources
- Native American Concerns
- Socioeconomic Resources
- Environmental Justice
- Transportation
- Hazardous Materials and Waste
- Health and Safety
What are land use plans?
A land use plan is a set of decisions that establish management direction for land within a BLM administrative area, as prescribed under the planning provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA); it is an assimilation of land-use-plan-level decisions developed through the planning process outlined in 43 CFR 1600, regardless of the scale at which the decisions were developed. The term includes both resource management plans (RMPs) and management framework plans (MFPs). Land use plan decisions establish desired outcomes and actions needed to achieve them. Decisions are made using the planning process defined in 43 CFR 1600.
The land use planning process is the key tool used by the BLM to protect resources and designate uses on BLM-administered lands. These plans help ensure that the public lands are managed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield, recognizing the Nation's need for domestic sources of minerals, food, timber, and fiber while protecting the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water, and archaeological values.
|
